HAZMAT responds to leak at Exxon Mobil refinery, residents shelter in place
A leak of potentially hazardous chemicals and a large column of smoke was released from ExxonMobil’s Torrance refinery at 6:10 p.m., prompting officials to activate a “shelter in place” siren for nearby residents while police and fire officials responded.
The leak was “stabilized” by 7:15 p.m., city officials said, adding that it came from an 8-inch pipeline in the crude unit and the “shelter in place” warning was lifted. Text messages went out from a citywide mobile-alert system to residents shortly after 7 p.m., nearly an hour after the incident reportedly occurred.
Officials did not say what was leaked but, on Sept. 6, a potentially deadly release of modified hydrofluoric acid was emitted from the refinery. Though it was a small leak, it was extremely dangerous because a single drop of the chemical can cause deep burns.
No one answered calls to an emergency response hotline at the refinery. Torrance Fire Department officials said hazardous materials officials responded to the site, and they were being briefed on the incident at about 6:30 p.m.
Automated barriers at the corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and 190th Street were activated as a precaution to keep motorists out of the area.
Firefighters sprayed water on the leaking unit, according to reports from the scene on a police scanner. There was no confirmation of a fire, and they were unable to immediately detect any hazardous chemicals in air-quality tests.
The leak was “stabilized” by 7:15 p.m., city officials said, adding that it came from an 8-inch pipeline in the crude unit and the “shelter in place” warning was lifted. Text messages went out from a citywide mobile-alert system to residents shortly after 7 p.m., nearly an hour after the incident reportedly occurred.
Officials did not say what was leaked but, on Sept. 6, a potentially deadly release of modified hydrofluoric acid was emitted from the refinery. Though it was a small leak, it was extremely dangerous because a single drop of the chemical can cause deep burns.
No one answered calls to an emergency response hotline at the refinery. Torrance Fire Department officials said hazardous materials officials responded to the site, and they were being briefed on the incident at about 6:30 p.m.
Automated barriers at the corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and 190th Street were activated as a precaution to keep motorists out of the area.
Firefighters sprayed water on the leaking unit, according to reports from the scene on a police scanner. There was no confirmation of a fire, and they were unable to immediately detect any hazardous chemicals in air-quality tests.
Comments